Lorde postpones Australian tour

Lorde has postponed her tour of Australia, which was set to kick off in Melbourne on Thursday (24.04.14), due to illness

Lorde has postponed her tour of Australia due to illness.

The New Zealand singer, real name Ella Yelich-O'Connor, was set to kick off the run of gigs in Melbourne on Thursday (24.04.14), followed by concerts in Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Newcastle and Brisbane, but has had to pull the plug after falling ill.

In a statement via their Facebook page, tour promoter Frontier Touring said: "Under doctor's advice, Ella Yelich-O'Connor will return to New Zealand for immediate rest and recuperation in order to regain complete health and continue touring for the rest of the year."

The 17-year-old star also revealed her disappointment following the announcement and it is not known what illness she is battling.

She said: "It breaks my heart to have to postpone these shows as the band and I absolutely love playing to Australian crowds, and it was not a decision we made lightly.

"I know I need to focus on getting better in order to perform at my best. We'll be with you as soon as we can, Aussies."

According to Frontier, rescheduled dates are being worked on for Lorde's Australian tour and will be announced as soon as possible.

The promoter is encouraging fans to hold on to tickets until new dates are announced.